Child development Flashcards
What happens to the cerebellum in the first year in life
It quadruples in size
Why does the brain continue developing so much post-term
If it were to be fully developed in utero, then our heads would be too big and inflexible to fir through the pelvis.
Summarise the key features of the association cortices
Association cortices
function less predictable
not organised topographically
left-right symmetry weak or absent
Describe the organisation of the lateral cortical spinal tracts
Dorsal to ventral: Sacral Lumbar Thoracic Cervical
Injury to the back- more likely to affect sacral and lumbar function and thus. lower limb function first.
Describe the function of the rubrospinal tract (extra-pyramidal)
automatic movements of arm in response to posture/balance changes
Describe the function of the Reticulospinal tract
coordinate automated movements of locomotion and posture (e.g. to painful stimuli)
Describe the function of the vestibulospinal tract
regulates posture to maintain balance, and facilitates mainly α motoneurones of the postural, anti-gravity (extensor) muscles
Summarise the morbidity of childhood developmental issues
20% children have special educational needs
2% have severe disability
What is meant by development
Development is the global impression of a child which encompasses growth, increase in understanding, acquisition of new skills and more sophisticated responses and behaviour. It serves to endow the child with increasingly complex skills in order to function in society.
o A dynamic process of growth, transformation, learning and acquisition of abilities to respond to and adapt to the environment in a planned, organised and independent manner.
o A process by which each child evolves into an independent adult.
What are the 4 domains of the development assessment
§ There are 4 domains:
o Gross motor performance.
o Vision and fine motor.
o Hearing, speech and language.
o Social, emotional and behavioural.
What are the gross motor skills
Walking Running Sitting Head lag Positioning
What are the fine motor skills
Vision is important for these tasks. Use of hands Grasp and fine pincer Bricks Crayon puzzles
What are the social skills
social interaction
stranger reaction
eating skills
dressing
What are the speech and language skills
vocalisation
words
understanding
imaginative play
What is meant by a milestone
§ Acquisition of a key performance skill is referred to as a milestone.
§ For each skill, normal range of attainment varies widely.
o Constant pattern but variable rate of attainment.
Define median age and limit age
§ Definitions:
o Median age – age when half of the standard population of children achieve that level.
o Limit age – age by which they should have achieved the level and is equal to 2 S. Ds from the mean age.
§ Both corrected for prematurity until age 2.
What are the developmental milestones for gross motor skills
o New-born – limbs flexed in symmetrical posture, head lag on pulling up.
o 6-8 weeks – raises head to 45degrees in prone.
o 6-8 months – sits without support.
o 8-9 months – crawling.
o 10 months – cruising around furniture.
o 12 months – walks unsteadily.
o 15 months – walks steadily.
Name the primitive reflexes that should have disappeared by 4-6 months
§ Primitive reflexes – these are protective and serve to promote support, balance and orientation:
o Reflexes – should disappear by 4-6 months:
§ Stepping.
§ Moro.
§ Grasp.
§ Asymmetric tonic reflex – which way babies head is turned, arm outstretches.
§ Rooting.
Describe the protective reflexes that should have developed from 5 months
Downward parachute reflex- when held and rapidly lowered, the infant extends and abducts both legs and the feet are plantigrade - 5month
Sideward protective reflex- infant puts arm out to save if tilted offbalance- 6 month
Forward protective reflex -7 month- arms and hands extend on forward decent to ground
backward protective reflex - 9 months- backward protective extension of arms when pushed backwards.
Describe the milestones for fine motor skills
§ Object permanence is attained at 9 months of age – the idea that when out if sight, not out of mind.
§ Milestones:
o 6 weeks – turns head to follow object.
o 4 months – reaches out to toys.
o 4-6 months – palmar grasp.
o 7 months – transfers between hands.
o 10 months – mature pincer grip.
o 16-18 months – marks with crayons.
o 14 months-4 years – towering.
o 2-5 years – ability to draw without seeing how it’s done (after seeing it can be done 6m earlier).
Describe the milestones for language and hearing
§ Milestones:
o New born – startles.
o 3-4 months – vocalises alone or when spoken to.
o 7 months – turns to soft sounds out of sight.
o 7-10 months – uses sound indiscriminately or discriminately.
o 12 months – two to three words other than dada or mama.
o 18 months – six to ten words.
o 20-24 months – makes simple phrases.
o 1.5-3 years – talk constantly in 3-4 word sentences
Describe the milestones for social skills
§ Milestones:
o 6 weeks – smile responsively.
o 6-8 months – puts food in mouth.
o 10-12 months – wave bye, play peek-a-boo.
o 12 months – drink from cut with two hands.
o 18 months – can eat by themselves.
o 18-24 months – symbolic play.
o 2 years – potty trained.
o 2.5-3 years – parallel play.
What are the different patterns of abnormal development
Patterns of abnormal development. These may be slow but steady, plateau or regression
o Over time, the gap widens so the deficit becomes more apparent.
Give some examples of limit ages
§ Examples of limit ages:
o Walking independently 18 months.
o Fixes and follows visually 3 months.
o Joins words 2 years.
o Symbolic play 2-2.5 years.
